BCCI willing to hold talks with PCB for bilateral series, says Shahryar

By
Abdul Majid Bhatti
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File photo: Shahryar Khan

LAHORE: The Indian cricket board has expressed willingness to come to the table for possibility of a bilateral series with Pakistan, in what seems to be a major breakthrough in the controversy surrounding bilateral cricket between the two countries.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan told this correspondent that the BCCI has responded to the legal notice sent by the PCB earlier this month, which seeks compensation from the Indian board for not honouring the MoU to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

The BCCI has made it clear to the PCB that it will need approval from the Indian government before it can play Pakistan in a bilateral series, irrespective of the nature of its agreement with the PCB.

The BCCI has indicated earlier that the MoU is "just a letter" and not a formal binding contract; however, it has shown willingness to fulfill the commitment, provided the government gave the go-ahead.

Shahryar Khan said that the notice has served Pakistan favourably as it has brought BCCI to the table for negotiations. He added that he was willing to meet with BCCI officials in Dubai this week but the ICC chief executive Dave Richardson was in England for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

The PCB chairman said that the PCB wishes to hold talks with the BCCI in the presence of ICC officials. If the ICC sends its representatives to Dubai then the meeting with BCCI officials could take place within this week, otherwise the negotiations could be held in England during the ICC meeting, Shahryar added.

Regarding the PCB’s legal notice to the BCCI, Shahryar said that the PCB has consulted with lawyers in England, who have pointed out that the PCB has a strong case against the BCCI.